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+ SHARE FIRST SINGLE ‘WORKING THE DITCH’
The Melvins latest opus, Tarantula Heart is quite possibly the band’s most unconventional and imaginative work yet, but also some of their catchiest, continuing a legacy celebrated for its eccentric and extraordinary output.
A preview of the five-song, 39-minute collection arrives with the release of ‘Working The Ditch’, and the accompanying Jesse Nieminen-created video. Nieminen previously directed the band’s short film, ‘A Walk With Love and Death’.
“The way we approached Tarantula Heart was different than any other Melvins’ album,” explains Buzz Osborne. “I had Dale and Roy Mayorga come in and play along with Steven and I to some riffs, then I took those sessions and figured out what parts would work and wrote new music to fit. This isn’t a studio approach we’ve ever taken. Usually we have the songs written BEFORE we start recording!”
“The majority of Tarantula Heart has dual drum parts,” adds long-time Melvins drummer Dale Crover. “Roy is an amazing drummer. We would discuss what we would do pattern wise, then we’d just go for it. Improvising riffs and trading off on drum fills.”
In actuality nothing appeared out of thin air. Buzz spent hours and hours with the drum tracks by himself writing songs to what he was hearing drum wise. “When the rest of the band heard these songs I’d created from the sessions, they were blown away,” Buzz shares. “These were fully developed new songs that they’d never heard before that had seemingly appeared out of thin air. Presto!”
Recorded, mixed and co-produced by longtime Melvins’ collaborator Toshi Kasai, the album also features We Are The Asteroid guitar player Gary Chester. Gary and the Melvins’ history goes back to their days on Boner Records, with the guitar player formerly having been a part of the legendary band, Ed Hall.
Next month sees the Melvins return to Australia and New Zealand for the first time since 2017, supporting current labelmates, Mr. Bungle, on The Raging Wrath of Australia & New Zealand tour across six capital city dates.
MELVINS TOUR DATES
Ticket details at: livenation.com.au
Sunday 3 March – Auckland Town Hall, Auckland NZ
Wednesday 6 March – Festival Hall, Melbourne VIC
Thursday 7 March – Hindley Street Music Hall, Adelaide SA
Saturday 9 March –Hordern Pavilion, Sydney NSW
Sunday 10 March – Fortitude Music Hall, Brisbane QLD
Tuesday 12 March – Metro City, Perth WA
